Certain Tree Bark May Prove Heart-Healthy

JAIPUR, India--Researchers here compared the effects of Terminalia arjuna tree bark with the heart-health benefits of vitamin E in a study published in February's The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India (49:231-5, 2001). In the one-month study, researchers reviewed 105 patients with coronary heart disease, none of whom were on lipid-lowering drugs. At baseline, total cholesterol, triglycerides, lipid peroxidation and HDL and LDL cholesterol were measured. Divided into three groups, group one received a placebo, group two received 400 IU of vitamin E per day and group three received 500 mg of finely pulverized bark powder. No significant changes were found in the placebo or vitamin E groups for total, HDL and LDL cholesterol levels, nor in triglyceride levels. However, in the tree bark group, total and LDL cholesterol were significantly lowered. Notably, lipid peroxidation decreased most significantly in the vitamin E users. The researchers, based at the Monilek Hospital and Research Center here, concluded that Terminalia arjuna tree bark powder proved to have a significant hypocholesterolemic effect. For additional information, visit www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov  and conduct a key word search using "PubMed."